Chapter 1

Molly

I’m going to rob the primary man who tries to take me dwelling.

It’s nothing private. Only a truth of life. I’m on a mission at this seedy dive in a nasty neighborhood, and I’m decided to observe by way of. The fellows on this place received’t be wealthy, however they’re not precisely saints, both. That makes it morally acceptable by some means. Flickering lights, a sticky ground, guys smoking cigars inside although that was banned years in the past. The bartender has extra tattoos than a jail yard. The Sterling Duck isn’t the type of bar I’d ever go into on a traditional Thursday evening, however I’m out of choices. Which implies I’m going dwelling with somebody tonight.

However I received’t have intercourse with him. No, I’m going to rifle by way of his pockets, his underwear drawer, underneath his mattress, behind his dresser. I’m going to take the whole lot: money, wallets, jewellery, telephones, something I’d have the ability to promote.

I cross my legs and really feel sick. My abdomen’s on the verge of emptying. Bile fills my throat. I wash it down with a giant glass of wine, hand shaking.

I’m going to do it. The primary man who sits down subsequent to me and tries some lame pick-up try, I’m going dwelling with him, and I’m going to steal the whole lot he has.

The thought makes my abdomen twist.

My toes are numb.

I’m going to do it.

I’ve been right here for half an hour and up to now, no person’s tried. I’m unsure if I’m insulted or relieved. A bit little bit of each. I need to rise up and run the hell out of right here, overlook about this terrible plan, faux like my life hasn’t smashed proper by way of all-time low and plummeted down into the bottom recesses of hell, however I can’t. Nana’s nonetheless at dwelling. Jason’s nonetheless along with her. If I stroll now, nothing will change.

Possibly I may skip all this crap and begin an OnlyFans. Besides I don’t see why anybody would need to pay good cash to see my boobs when there are like 100 thousand fairly ladies with good boobs charging lower than I’d want. Plus, I’m not superb at on-line stuff. Possibly I may stop kidding myself and cost for intercourse immediately—however there’s nonetheless a voice behind my head that wishes to keep away from the worst of the worst. I’m determined, however a minimum of I’m not a hooker. Not but, anyway, as a result of if this doesn’t work?—

It’s going to work. I’m going to do it.

The clientele tonight is subdued. The Philadelphia 76ers are taking part in on TV and the general public round me are watching. I like basketball higher than different sports activities. I can relate to how a lot they love footwear. There’s an older couple of their fifties, just a few guys clustered in a sales space of their forties, just a few loners sipping drinks, however no person comes close to me. Like they know I’m hassle.

I anticipated a sure type of man after I got here right here tonight. Rugged, indignant, harmful, the form of man who spends a variety of day trip on the corners stepping into hassle, the type of man who works on the docks however doesn’t even have a job. There are a variety of guys like that in deep South Philly the place the Irish clans management a lot of the streets. I’d know as a result of I’m associated to a few them. My cousin Mickey sells pot to varsity children and will get in fights outdoors the stadiums. My uncle Seamus is serving a life sentence for murdering the top of a rival crew.

Being a lowlife piece of shit runs in my household.

Which is why I can pull this off.

However the place is empty. There are solely regular folks tonight. No assholes flashing gang indicators, sitting round with gold chains, exhibiting a peek of the gun they’ve stashed of their waistband. Simply regular working of us. Not the folks I need to rob.

I take one other shaky sip of wine and regular my respiration. I want I had beer, however that’s not the picture I’m going for proper now. I need to scream stylish and obtainable. Additionally somewhat fuckable. Like I’m an incredible meal simply ready to be scooped up. I need to appear like the type of woman who’ll be excited to get into some lowlife asshole’s stolen Lexus.

That is who I’m. Or a minimum of it’s who I’m meant to be. I spent all my life avoiding these folks, pretending like I’m not them, like I’m higher. I waitressed throughout city, at diners, strip golf equipment, fancy bars. It was by no means sufficient. Now I’m twenty-four and what do I’ve? Debt, a Nana on incapacity, and a sick brother. My two years of neighborhood school to get a cute certificates in hospitality don’t look nice proper about now.

As a result of I’m going to do that.

I end my first glass of wine and begin on my second. I’m sporting a good black gown and each time I transfer, the hem pulls up my thighs. I catch just a few guys wanting and assume, don’t do it, please don’t do it, however none of them strategy. The highest is reduce low and I’ve bought the cross necklace Nana gave me for my sixteenth birthday glowing between my tits like a honeypot. Go forward and stare, it’s virtually screaming. I need to rip it off.

After my second glass, I’m able to get out of right here. Overlook desperation. I’m an unpleasant bundle of nerves. That is worse than that point I performed the snowman in a college play. I had, like, ten pages of strains to memorize in fourth grade. I bear in mind sweating by way of my white turtleneck backstage so unhealthy my brother, Jason, laughed and stated I used to be melting. I can hold telling myself that I’m robust sufficient, that I can flip off my mind and put aside my satisfaction for one evening if it means survival, however I’m mendacity to myself. I’ve by no means been in a position to flip my chattering cranium off. At evening, I lay awake staring on the ceiling as my mind babbles in languages I don’t even know. Pictures, sensations, songs whirling by way of my cranium one million miles per second.

I shove again from the bar and I’m about to face when the door opens.

Two guys stroll inside. I freeze, not transferring. They’re huge, each of them, wearing shirts, jackets, no ties, with the highest buttons undone, their darkish hair shoved again. Watches glitter on their wrists. They scream cash and energy. The room stares in silent shock because the pair survey the rundown tables, the peeling laminate flooring, the water-stained ceiling, earlier than they stroll to the bar.

And sit down one stool away from me.

I don’t transfer. My coronary heart’s racing in my chest. Slowly, I push again and nod on the bartender. As soon as he’s finished with the newcomers’ drinks, he brings me one other glass of wine. I sip it, mouth watering.

They’re not the type of males I anticipated tonight. They’re not the Irish thugs that usually hold round a dead-end like this.

However they’re simply as harmful and far richer.

The person sitting nearer to me is the bigger of the 2. He has a straight nostril, sq. jaw lined in stubble, and shoulders like a linebacker. All the things about his garments suggests a severe businessman with means, besides a severe businessman with means would by no means sit down in a spot like this. Which implies he’s one thing else.

Supply: www.seynovel.com